The Fairfax Network is Fairfax County Public Schools' award-winning, grant-funded producer of distance learning programming, which provides free enrichment resources for educators in FCPS and around the globe.

SMITHSONIAN SCIENCE HOW?
How Volcanic Eruptions Send Materials Up and Out
Audience: Students in Grades 6-8

Meet Dr. Ben Andrews, a geologist at the National Museum of Natural History. He studies volcanoes to get a better understanding of how eruptions happen. What causes ash and other materials during violent "pyroclastic" eruptions to spew out the way they do? Explore the physics of explosive eruptions. Reflect on the hazards scientists face in studying active volcanoes. Visit Ben's volcanology lab to see how he uses his simulator - a giant tank, talcum powder, lasers, and cameras - to model how erupted materials travel. Understand why research on volcanoes is important for our safety.

Shannon Messenger is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the award-winning series, Keeper of the Lost Cities, as well as the Sky Fall series for young adults. Although the Keeper of the Lost Cities books are longer than most for the targeted audience, Messenger says “I think they just have to look past the thickness of the book and trust that the chapters are short and it reads really fun.”

During the live webcast, students can call in and talk to the author about character development, her writing process, whatever is on their minds. We are accepting questions prior to the webcast. Students may submit their questions online or via e-mail to Questions@fcps.edu. Please submit questions by November 26.

Author Alan Gratz is the New York Times bestselling author of historical fiction and fantasy novels for young readers. His latest book, Refugee is a YALSA 2018 Best Fiction for Young Adults. This novel tells the story of three children who flee their countries and homes in search of refuge. In the School Library Journal, a reviewer wrote that Refugee "...will help young people make sense of today's refugee crisis. Meant to be read, discussed, and shared widely."

He was a writer on the Mickey Mouse Club, Mystery Files of Shelby Woo, and Clifford’s Puppy Days. Now his writing features the award-winning series Framed! and Dead City. Winner of the Mystery Writers of America’s Edgar Award for Juvenile Fiction, Ponti told a Orlando Sentinel reporter, “I’m happy in this world of books. I love the librarians, the teachers and the kids.”

-- CavesLIVE: A Distance Learning Adventure – Scientists answered questions from students during this live, 45-minute program from Luray Caverns in Virginia.

-- CavesLIVE: Bringing Caves and Karst to Light – This 40-minute video explores cave ecology, geology, hydrology, and conservation, as well as human uses of caves.

Both programs explore how caves and their rich underground ecosystems connect to our everyday lives. Specially adapted animals, beautiful mirror pools, sparkling crystals, domed caverns, and twisting tunnels lie just below our feet in many areas around the world and even on other planets! Also, check out the web site at https://CavesLIVE.org for lesson plans and other resources.

The goal of CavesLIVE is to raise awareness and understanding of caves and karst -- a resource that is seldom seen and considered mysterious -- and connect it to people's everyday lives.

Questions?
Contact Kristy Liercke at lierckkx@pwcs.edu or by calling (703) 791-7359. CavesLIVE is brought to you by the USDA Forest Service, Prince William Network, and other partners.

FreshWaterLIVE

Everyone needs fresh water to live, but fresh water is limited and precious. We’ll adventure from the headwaters in the mountain peaks, through the protective forests, into our cities and countryside, and ultimately to the sea. Be a part of this online webcast with scientists from the US Forest Service and Denver Museum of Nature & Science. Learn how you can take action to conserve and protect the water in your hometown.

You can watch one or both of these videos:

CLICK HERE https://freshwaterlive.org/webcast-info/western-webcast to watch a 24-minute video highlighting watersheds in Colorado. This program, produced by the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, features Carl Chambers, a US Forest Service hydrologist, a Bob Raynolds, a geologist with the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.

GrasslandsLIVE is geared toward students in grades 4-8 as well as others who have an interest in this important ecosystem. Learn about: the management and conservation of grasslands; birds and other animals that depend on grassland habitat; the connection between grasslands in the U.S. and Mexico; and how to participate in citizen science programs.

Check out more distance learning adventures at http://FSNatureLIVE.org. Click on Video Adventures to find downloadable videos to use in classrooms, presentations or visitor centers. Find citizen science opportunities, access an inventory of instructional resources, download lesson plans, and view archived webinars and webcasts.

Questions?

Contact Kristy Liercke at lierckkx@pwcs.edu or by calling (703) 791-7359. GrasslandsLIVE is brought to you by the USDA Forest Service, Prince William Network, and other national and international partners.

FreshWaterLIVE: A Distance Learning Adventure is an online exploration of the origins, travels and perils of fresh water. This electronic field trip brings learning about fresh water to students, teachers, non-formal learners, and all who have an interest in this important resource.

ClimateChangeLIVE: A Distance Learning Adventure
Middle School and High School Students

Both programs are now available on the ClimateChangeLIVE web site at http://ClimateChangeLIVE.org as streaming video and are a great resource for your classroom. Check out:
-- Educate, Inspire and Engage features a presentation by the award-winning Alliance for Climate Education (ACE) and covers the science of climate change.
-- Join the Climate Conversation features climate science experts and student perspectives and solutions.

Nature’s Partners: Pollinators, Plants and People is available as streaming video. (Make sure you refresh the page to access the proper videos.) The program is available in English and Spanish. Watching the video and conducting a lesson plan available at this link would be a great school activity to get students learning outside.